Following the President’s departure to the heights of Mount Pleasant, instead keeping to the lowlands, five continued north on the Valley Road to Steam Mills, then Drybrook. The climb to the cutting was more gentle than expected – maybe a tailwind assisted? The tower at Euroclydon was magnificent as always. Through the sandstone cutting and the descent on the perfect surface was rapid, but not for long as the smooth stuff soon ended abruptly – probably at the border with Herefordshire, a county well known for deteriorating roads.
No matter, we turned left onto Eunice Saunders Way and through the magnificent woodlands and what seemed an everlasting descent to Pontshill. Care required here with surface water and plenty of sand to trap the unwatchful rider. We all popped out unscathed. So to the A40 and a short stretch to take in a new route for most: Les assured us it was good, having used it recently on an Audax. The track started well, mainly tarmac with some bits absent; then hard-pack; then into the woods on a trail, leaf covered but smooth and not muddy – perfect! This ended on a lane into Lea. From here it was up, gently, to The Penny Farthing: not stopping here, we pressed onwards and downwards to re-enter Gloucestershire, with the Captain sneakily nipping ahead at the last moment to take the honours of first into our home county. Kews Lane took us to our official stop, The Kilcot Inn, where refreshments were enjoyed in the warmth by four riders, the fifth opting to head directly home.
On departing, a little rain was noted: time for home. This was disrupted by a serious mechanical failure for AliG, a freewheel that became free in both directions! Due to loss of forward propulsion he was forced to abandon and made his way back to the Inn to await a lift home – and likely took in another beer, too! Now down to three, it was on via Conigree Road and its sharp cutting through the red sandstone; around and into Newent; another cutting opportunity was taken by way of Hill Top Lane. From here it was plain sailing towards the Golden Valley (one of several in the County) – where Toby had a very close encounter with a fast moving squirrel: the Captain was shaken, the tree rat was stirred and likely had a bloody nose, from its leaping into a fast rotating front wheel. A little further on a buzzard flew across our path, just a few feet ahead of us: another close call.
No other incidents occurred on the run-in to town: the Gloucester Cows on Alney Island are very chilled, you just have to make you own way around them!
A good 56 miles all told for the day. And the rain never came to anything.
TW